Maker Mig’s a GOOD neighbor

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

“Maker Mig” sent us news of this little act of maker-y kindness, done in support of GOOD magazine’s Neighbor Day. We asked, if people did anything in support of this event, to let us know, so Miguel let us know of this trashcan repair:

A couple of months ago, my neighbor was upset that the recycling truck slammed her trashcan down and broke the plastic hinges that held the wheels in place. This is quite a problem for people. The cans sit in the sun and then get slammed around by the recycling trucks and always end up breaking. They get replaced for 60-100 bucks a pop, depending on the size. My neighbor said she was upset that she was going to have to pay 60 bucks for a new one.

For Neighbor Day (which is also my birthday this year), I decided to take care of it for her. With a few hose clamps, screws, and some plywood, I fashioned a fix. From the photo, you can see that the wheels where originally held on by the plastic and you can see how they’re broken. So far, this has held pretty well and no complaints from the city! She offered to pay me for the time but I said no big deal and let it go.

It’s not a very impressive project, and yet, it shows how you can fix things rather than get new ones!

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.